TAMAH-LANI NOH APPOINTED AS NEW STATE DRUG CONTROL LIAISON

For Immediate Release:  August 18, 2004

HONOLULU – Continuing the Lingle-Aiona Administration’s efforts to fight illicit drug abuse and underage drinking, Tamah-Lani Noh has been appointed as the new State of Hawai`i Drug Control Strategy Liaison.  She succeeds Earline Yokoi, who will be leaving the position on August 31st and retiring from State government after 30 years of service.

“Earline has done an outstanding job laying the foundation for the “Hawai`i Drug Strategy,” said Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr.   “She will be missed, however, I am confident that Tamah-Lani will pick up where Earline left off, with the same passion and dedication to purpose in finding balanced solutions to fighting illegal substance abuse in our state.”

Noh was most recently the acting counter drug coordinator for the Hawai`i National Guard, where she worked closely with local community organizations and law enforcement agencies in addressing drug issues in the State of Hawai`i.

Noh will work directly with Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. to manage, support and implement functions for the Administration’s Hawai`i Drug Control Strategy.  She will collaborate and coordinate private and public partnerships that will develop and institute new programs to improve and integrate drug prevention and treatment services.

Noh has more than 10 years of experience in substance abuse counseling and awareness programs.  She enlisted in the Hawai`i Air National Guard in 1985.  As the Hawai`i Air National Guard’s Drug Demand Reduction Administrator for the Counter Drug Support Program, she facilitated drug awareness and effective family communications courses statewide.  She has also served as the executive support officer, Counter Drug Support Program, where she coordinated drug demand reduction and operation efforts for the Hawai`i National Guard.  Noh also has more than 5,000 hours in clinical experience which includes substance abuse counseling of individuals and groups in a federal drug-after-care program and adolescent treatment.

Noh serves on the Lt. Governor’s Drug Task Force and was a member of the working group that coordinated the planning and logistics of the Administration’s Drug Control Strategy Summit in September 2003.  Earlier this year she was appointed to the Hawai`i High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Executive Committee.  In 1997, Noh was recognized by PRIDE as the Outstanding Parent to Parent Drug-Free Facilitator.  She has also been recognized by the University of Hawai`i for Outstanding Community Service and by Hawai`i National Guard as Outstanding Company Grade Officer of the Year for 1998. 

Noh earned her masters degree from the American School of Professional Psychology and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hawai`i.  She is a graduate of Moanalua High School and is a certified substance abuse counselor for the State of Hawai`i.  She is married to Michael Noh and has two young children.

Yokoi, who served as the drug control liaison since January, said, “Much has been accomplished this year under the Lt. Governor’s leadership to establish a comprehensive, self-sustaining, long-term substance abuse strategy for the state.”

Among the accomplishments Yokoi cited are:  In June 2004, the Administration awarded more than $1 million in federal funds to four existing youth service centers to provide family strengthening and teen pregnancy prevention services.  In September, as part of the effort to fight substance abuse among teens, the Lt. Governor’s office, in partnership with the Department of Education and the Department of Human Services, will implement after school activities for middle school students to provide alternatives to high-risk activities.  The Administration also is in the process of improving the structure for delivering critical substance abuse services (treatment, prevention, interdiction). 

For more information, visit the Hawai`i Drug Control Strategy Web site at: http://www.hawaii.gov/hawaiidrugcontrolstrategy.

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For more information, contact:
Celyn Chong Kee  
Public Liaison  
Office of the Lt. Governor  
Phone: 586-0255

Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Office of the Governor
Phone:  586-7705

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Office of the Governor
Phone: 586-0043